Mental health first-aiders

During Mental Health Awareness Week, we're thankful for our colleagues who have trained to become mental health first-aiders.

71 colleagues from business areas across the Society have undergone this vital training to develop their skills and confidence in offering psychological support to others. This initiative was first created in response to an increased demand for mental health services during the pandemic. These 'first-aiders' can help identify when someone might be struggling with their mental health and offer advice and support.

Head of Pharmacy, Marc Brooks is one of our qualified mental health first-aiders and recognises the importance of this service. Marc said: "This training gives us a better understanding of the signs that someone might be struggling, and helps us to break the ice to ask whether they could benefit from some support.

"We have access to a central phone number for the Lincolnshire Mental Health Hub. It's an amalgamation of small, local charities and it means that the person who is struggling only has to call one number and explain their situation to one person. Then they will be signposted to the appropriate professional."

We're proud of these colleagues who have taken the time and initiative to learn new skills for the benefit of others.